18th March 1917 H.M. PADDLEMINESWEEPER DUCHESS OF MONTROSE Sunk off Dunkirk

On 29 October 1901 the Caledonian Steam Packet Company accepted John Brown & Company of Clydebank to build the Paddle Steamer “Duchess of Montrose” the ship for £19,572.

The keel was laid on 19 December 1901, and launched on 8 May 1902. Fitted with a triple-expansion steam engine incorporating four cylinders arranged in tandem to drive two cranks. This arrangement was considered more efficient than the conventional two-cylinder compound steam engine and provided greater manoeuvrability at piers.

On the morning of Sunday 18 March 1917, Duchess of Montrose left Dunkirk harbour and at 9am began sweeping close to the Gravelines Buoy. She recovered five mines laid by the German submarine UB-12, before stopping for low water. Around an hour after she resumed sweeping, Duchess of Montrose hit a mine amidships, broke in two and sank in less than a minute. Thirty-one of the crew of Duchess of Montrose are reported to have been rescued, but thirteen men were lost in the sinking.

- REMEMBER H.M. PADDLESTEAMER DUCHESS OF MONTROSE -

Sunk off Dunkirk on 18th March 1917

LIST OF THE DEAD

BROWN, Second Engineer. WILLIAM JAMES. Mercantile Marine Reserve, Age 36. Husband of Georgina Gillan Brown of 72, Montague Street, Rothesay, Bute, Scotland.

FAIR, Third Engineer. WILLIAM. Mercantile Marine Reserve, Born Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Son of J. D. and Margaret Ann Dodds Fair of 32, Cramond Street, Glasgow, Scotland.

GIBBON, Trimmer, 323ST. THOMAS EDWARD.Royal Naval Reserve, Age 34. Son of Mary Ann Gibbon of 12, Hartington Street, Thornaby-on-Tees.

HOUSTON, Steward. ROBERT. Mercantile Marine Reserve,

MACPHERSON, Assistant Steward. ALEXANDER. Mercantile Marine Reserve, Age 20. Son of Angus and Alice Macpherson of 8, Sasall, Sleat, Isle of Skye.

MACDONALD, Deck Hand, NORMAN RNR, SD 1031

MACELWEE, Ty/Engineer Sub Lieutenant, ARCHIBALD RNR

MCLENNAN, Donald J, Deck Hand, DONALD.J. RNR, SD 4527

MCPHERSON, Alexander, Assistant Steward, ALEXANDER. MMR, (no service number listed)

PANTHER, Telegraphist, London/Z/3836. CYRIL HAMBLY. Royal Naval Reserve, Age 19. Son of Mary Amy Panther of 1 16, Braidwood Road, Catford, London; and the late William S. Panther

SPARKES, Officers Steward. WILLIAM ERNEST. Mercantile Marine Reserve, Age 29. Son of Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Sparkes of Manor Park, London. Husband of Lilian Cox (formerly Sparkes) of Park Lane, Otterbourne Hill, Winchester, Hampshire.

TUFFIN, Petty Officer (Pensioner), 150803. ALFRED ROBERT. Royal Navy, Died 18 March 1917. Age 44. Born Poplar, Middlesex 5 August 1873. Husband of Clara Tuffin of 46, Gown Street, Leiston, Suffolk.

WARDEN, Deck Hand, 1638SD. CHRISTOPHER. Royal Naval Reserve, H.M. Aged 50. Son of John and Frances Warden of South Shields. Husband of Isabella Warden of 14, Hedley Street, South Shields.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

This shipwreck is not protected as an offical War Grave.

However WW1 mementoes or souvenirs taken by divers from this shipwreck including the bones of the dead, should be reported to the Receiver of Wreck . https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/receiver-of-wreck

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